#strange places

[madcat-world]

Strange Places (10 of 25) - Artem Chebokha

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Medieval Hermitage atop Katskhi Pillar, in Georgia (South Caucasus), c. 800-900 CE: this church was built during the Middle Ages; it sits atop a limestone column that has been venerated as a "Pillar of Life" for thousands of years

Known as Katskhi Pillar (or Katskhis Sveti), this enormous block of limestone is located in western Georgia, about 10km from the town of Chiatura.

The church that stands atop Katskhi Pillar was originally constructed during the 9th-10th century CE. It was long used as a hermitage for Stylites, who are sometimes referred to as "Pillar Saints" -- Christian ascetics who lived, prayed, and fasted atop pillars, often in total isolation, in an effort to bring themselves closer to God. This tradition originated in Syria during the 5th century CE, when a hermit known as Simeon the Elder purportedly climbed up onto a pillar and then stayed there for nearly 40 years, giving rise (no pun intended) to the Stylites. Stylitism managed to survive for about 1,000 years after its inception, but it gradually began to die out during the late Middle Ages, and by the end of the 16th century, it had essentially gone extinct.

Researchers don't really know how the monks originally gained access to the top of Katskhi Pillar, or how they were able to transport their building materials up to the top of the column. There's evidence that the Stylites were still living at Katskhi Pillar up until the 15th century, but the site was then abandoned shortly thereafter. This was the same period in which Georgia came under Ottoman rule, though it's unclear whether or not that may have played a role in the abandonment of the site.

The hermitage continued to lay abandoned for nearly 500 years after that. No one had been able to gain access to the top of the pillar, and very little was even known about the ruins that lay scattered at the top, as knowledge about the site's origin/history was gradually lost. There are many local legends that emerged as a way to fill in those blanks.

The site was not visited again until July 29th, 1944, when a mountaineer finally ascended to the top of the column with a small team of researchers, and the group performed the first archaeological survey of the ruins. They found that the structure included three hermit cells, a chapel, a wine cellar, and a small crypt; within the crypt lay a single set of human remains, likely belonging to one of the monks who had inhabited the site during the Middle Ages.

A metal ladder (the "stairway to Heaven") was ultimately installed into the side of the pillar, making it much easier for both researchers and tourists to gain access to these ruins.

The hermitage at the top of Katskhi Pillar actually became active again in the early 1990's, when a small group of monks attempted to revive the Stylite tradition. A Georgian Orthodox monk named Maxime Qavtaradze then lived alone at the top of Katskhi Pillar for almost 20 years, beginning in 1995 and ending with his death in 2014. He is now buried at the base of the pillar.

While the hermitage is no longer accessible to the public, and it is currently uninhabited, it's still visited by local monks, who regularly climb up to the church in order to pray. There is also an active monastery complex at the base of the pillar, where a temple known as the Church of the Simeon Stylites is located.

The Church of the Simeon Stylites: this church is located within an active monastery complex that has been built at the base of the pillar; several frescoes and religious icons decorate the walls of the church, and a small shrine containing a 6th century cross is located in the center

There are many lingering questions about the history of Katskhi Pillar, particularly during the pre-Christian era. There is at least some evidence suggesting that it was once the site of votive offerings to pagan deities, as a series of pre-Christian idols have been found buried in the areas that surround the pillar; according to local tradition, the pillar itself was once venerated by the pagan societies that inhabited the area, but it's difficult to determine the extent to which these claims may simply be part of the mythos that surrounds Katskhi Pillar, particularly given its mysterious reputation.

Sources & More Info:

BBC: Georgia's Daring, Death-Defying Pilgrimage

CNN: Katskhi Pillar, the Extraordinary Church where Daring Monks Climb Closer to God

Radio Free Europe: Georgian Monk Renews Tradition, Lives Atop Pillar

Architecture and Asceticism (Ch. 4): Stylitism as a Cultural Trend Between Syria and Georgia

Research Publication from the Georgian National Museum: Katskhi Pillar

Journal of Nomads: Katskhi Pillar, the Most Incredible Cliff Church in the World

Georgian Journal: Georgia's Katskhi Pillar Among World's 20 Wonderfully Serene and Secluded Places

[itscodebaby]

y o u s a i d y o u ‘ d b e h e r e

[its-a-pain-having-a-name]

Remembered about our final piece from school and thought we’d post it

We did the whole thing by hand, with a mechanical pencil (for sketch) ohuhu alcohol markers and fineliners

[krondstadt]

[unrealityliminal]

[dimalink]

Little Circle Crystals

Pixel art for today based on videogame Cloud Kingdoms for computer system IBM PC MS DOS. Little game is about ball or circle. With a view of an owl. He, maybe, jumps and moves and doing something!

Ms Dos, sometimes, makes wow effect, because of its imagination! It is a whole planet with games for Ms Dos! They are very different from computers or consoles. And there are lots of interesting! I think, that it is a very interesting little game!

And this is my drawing based on the same theme. It is a world of flashlights. Such, a world where everywhere flashlights do some light. And their bright light shows a space here. And around - there are some structures. And this is a labyrinth. And you jump by flashlights. They are starting point for actions.

You need here to collect crystals. For this certain place you go, for this delicious crystals. They are delicious. This circle with eyes eats crystals. And he searches them in different worlds. He, already, visits a world of mushrooms. By he needs crystals. Crystals, they are delicious and they grow in certain worlds.

There are growing crystals in this certain world. There are no one here. Only labyrinth and crystals. A certain thing – you really need! Walk the labyrinth and collect crystals! Because of they are delicious!

Dima Link is making retro videogames, apps, a little of music, write stories, and some retro more.

WEBSITE: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html ITCHIO: https://dimalink.itch.io/

TUMBLR: https://dimalink.tumblr.com/ BLOGGER: https://dimalinkeng.blogspot.com/ MASTODON: https://mastodon.social/@DimaLink

[pieoriginals]

Strange Places: The Mountains; The Canyon

ID in alt

[laurondub]

[dorkvania]

Portland Mausoleum

[galliaestomnis]

Burj Al Babas is a luxury residential project located in the Sarılar district of the northwestern Turkish province of Mudurnu. It was first announced in 2014, and was marketed as a "fairy tale" themed village. However, the project encountered financial difficulties and was eventually stalled, with many of the partially-constructed villas left unfinished. In recent years, Burj Al Babas has gained notoriety as an example of the excesses of the Turkish real estate market, and a symbol of the country's economic struggles.

[mask131]

For those of you who can read French, here is a nice little (but old) article about the “Road of Death” of Mount Hua, in China

https://www.voyage-insolite.com/2014/04/25/incroyabe-chemin-mort-mont-hua-chine/

[itscodebaby]

d r e a m a n e w r e a l i t y

[sirenemarie]

Spam museum 😆 do you like spam?

[elixlozgamer]

When you travel to school, keep in mind the few rules.

Always lock your door, and make sure your key is out. It may be basic, but you'd rather a robbery than what other horrors await in the neighborhood.

On the first road, beware of the man that walks to the woods every morning.

If you're a man, walk tougher.

If you're a woman, keep your keys in your hand.

No matter your gender, only watch him in your peripheral vision. He'll check each house for a key, too.

On the second road, don't watch the woods. Don't even make eye contact. The creatures don't like being watched. It scares them.

Don't walk in the grass, either. If a car comes, step to the curb.

If you touch the grass, it will turn as red as your blood.

As you cross the ponds, don't stop to gaze. The fog ghosts that dance will drag you beneath the surface. You can watch, but don't ever stop moving.

Beware of the car with headlights. Their goal is to make you walk on the grass. Just keep staring ahead, and step to the curb or go around. Anything is better than walking on the grass.

At the bus stop, ignore the talking boy. If you respond back, you'll never get rid of him. Keep your ear buds in.

If he taps you on the shoulder, only wave.

Eventually, the bus will arrive. Say goodmorning to the driver, otherwise the busbwill crasg. Stay away from the back. Their loudness will drive you insane. Opt for the front instead.

Ignore everybody until you get to school.

That is all.

Safe travels.

[anarchythephoenix]

what the dog doing?